Circumstances of Disappearance

Marie Ann Blee was last seen at a 4-H dance at the Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Craig, Colorado, during the evening of November 21, 1979. After the dance, she went to a party at Shadow Mountain mobile home park with 18-year old Monte Dean Doolin, a male friend. She was reported missing by her parents when she failed to return home by the following morning. At first, authorities suspected that Marie was a runaway, but her parents insisted that running away didn't fit Marie's personality.

Attendees reported alcohol and drug use at the party. Doolin later told authorities that Blee informed him she had a ride home with an unidentified person at 1:30 AM - 2:00 AM. Boolin stated that he never saw Blee again.
That is the last confirmed sighting of her. Some witnesses told authorities they had seen her at a Craig convenience store. But due to conflicting accounts from party goers, Marie's movements later on that night are uncertain.

Monte Doolin was arrested and given a suspended sentence for attempted extortion one week after Blee vanished. He admitted that he made a phone call to her parents, in which he demanded $5000 in ransom for their daughter's return. He maintains that he is innocent of any involvement in Blee's case.

In 1999, officers from the Moffat and Routt County Sheriff Department, the Craig and Hayden Police Departments, and the FBI formed a task force with the goal of finding Marie Blee. Since then, at least two suspects connected with the case have been arrested and the task force searched three sites near Hayden for signs of Marie. Over the years, several wells, suspicious mounds or other possible hiding places have been exhumed by local law enforcement. But the case remains open. Foul play is suspected.